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“In parallel to listening to rock and pop music I just took an interest in folk music and I heard Irish tunes,” he said. “It’s stayed with me my whole life. There’s some connection.<\/p>\n
“There’s a lot of soul in it and I dabble in bluegrass, which has its roots in Irish music in America.”<\/p>\n
Levy, who lives in Bexhill, said the musicians who join range in age from their teens to their 70s and come from as far as Brisbane and Kyogle, attracted by the inclusive nature of the sessions.<\/p>\n
“They like the way we encourage and let everybody in,” he said. “It can get a bit cliquey elsewhere if you’re not up to scratch or not as good a player. There’s kind of a hierarchy in cities and places where people are more serious about it.<\/p>\n
“I’m just trying to encourage an interest in the music. For<\/p>\n
me it’s great to see the real deal and be able to play along with them.”<\/p>\n
Levy said a few of the regulars are of Irish background and enjoy socialising with like-minded people.<\/p>\n
“Young and old Irishmen come and join in,” he said. “Sometimes they will stand up and sing a song. Last month we had a young fiddler who was out here working come and play a few tunes.<\/p>\n
“And you can have a few Guinnesses while you’re there, enjoying the craic as the Irish would say.”<\/p>\n
The Eltham Hotel’s Irish folk music jam takes place on the second Wednesday of the month from 5pm to 8pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THEY come from far and wide, armed with fiddles, flutes, tin whistles, accordions, drums and guitars, ready for a good old-fashioned Irish folk music jam session. With glasses of Guinness lined up on the table, the musicians fill the Eltham Hotel beer garden with the soulful, spirited tunes of the Emerald Isle. “The atmosphere in […]<\/p>\n